Slice - the Pizza App

Last week we ordered food from Assaggi through Grubhub. As it turned out, the restaurant wasn’t open on Memorial Day and when the driver went to pick the food up, he called to say it was closed. The app processed the order as usual and gave no indication about the place being closed. Anyway, it turned out ok as the charges were reversed. Yesterday I went to Assaggi’s website - to make sure it was open - and saw that they recommended using the “slice” app for ordering. What I read about it was that all the proceeds go to the shop, rather than the go between, so we thought to give it a try. We still prefer delivery to pick up as we are in the “at risk” age group and still prefer to play it safe. The app worked just fine and when the order was complete we got an email about it, and then a second one that the restaurant would be processing it. We didn’t get any more updates - like tracking the driver, etc - until the order arrived at exactly 6:15. We usually order more than just one meal so we can have some leftovers during the week and get away from having to think about what to prepare every night. That’s more like what our routine was before March 13. Anyway, the app worked well, the order was exactly on time, the food was prepared and packaged nicely, and we would do it again. It’s nice to be able to order from our favorite places, but it’s no fun messing around with the packaging and containers to avoid the “cooties.” I’m sure we are doing overkill, but we just don’t want to take any chances. Now we have enough lasagna, pizza, salad, and meatballs to last another couple of meals. It was worth it. 

Facebook Business Page Workaround

It’s been about two weeks since my Facebook business page stopped working. I set it up many, many years ago for my digital art work. It’s had glitches before, and they were usually addressed. I primarily use it to showcase my custom pet portraits, but also add daily “in the neighborhood” photos of things I come across. Every day I’ve been sending a note about the problem and have uninstalled and reinstalled the app on both my iPad and iPhone. Then it dawned on me today that I should look at it “the old way” on the internet. I rarely use my laptop and didn’t want to bother with it. So I tried my iPhone first and found the page on safari, but it’s hard to navigate on the phone and many features can’t be used. So I found the page on my iPad and also an astonishing number of items that simply aren’t visible on the app. So I finally added an entry after two weeks and got some immediate responses. I also updated a few items that aren’t even available on the app. So I learned something again. Facebook isn’t interested in responding to problems with the app and I can do a workaround using the web. I’m sure if I tried it on my laptop there would be even more things to update. I’m just too lazy to do that. 

Thanksgiving in May

I got the idea over a month ago. I wanted to get a butterball bone in turkey in a bag to cook for not only dinner, but use the leftovers for sandwiches and to make soup. I always get this turkey for our annual family thanksgiving. I also wanted to share this one with my brother and sister in law - as a surprise. Since we have been doing delivery groceries since March 13, it’s taken a few weeks to get all the ingredients. I had to make a special Instacart request for the turkey at Harris Teeter - sending along a photo of the turkey package. I was thrilled when they found what I was looking for! But the stove top stuffing took a few tries until it arrived last week from Giant Peapod. Prior to that, we already had the potatoes, and Brussel sprouts, and the gravy arrived a couple of weeks ago. Since we don’t drink milk, we were able to use a powder substitute. And instead of butter for the dressing, we used olive oil. We put the turkey in around 2:00 and my husband and I chowed down around 5:30. Then we put the delivery box together - all the fixings plus two bags of Pizelle wafer cookies for dessert. I sent a cryptic text to my sister in law and she initially was not sure about the meaning of it, but soon caught on. So we made our first trip to another part of DC to make the “touchless” delivery. I dropped the bag at their front door and ran back to the car. At first she wasn’t sure who was in the car, but figured that out too - masks make it bit difficult to know who you are talking to. Anyway, it was a fun outing - the first one we have had in months. To see another familiar face was quite nice. And we both got a turkey dinner out of it. Now - let’s have a sandwich! 

Growjoy Plants from Indiana for our Balcony Baskets

We needed just a little bit of a personal touch to our balcony flower baskets. I ordered them on line/phone and three coco lined containers were filled with sun loving annuals from Ginkgo Gardens in DC. We drove in to town to pick them up and they were placed in our trunk, then zip tied to the backs of the chair and loveseat - which actually looks quite nice. It keeps them off the floor and in sync with condo rules that prohibit hanging anything on the balcony rails. Since we won’t go shopping indoors for anything, I looked to see who ships plants. I found Growjoy from Berne, Indiana. The reviews were very positive and they had a nice variety. I just needed three flowers that liked sun, would drape the baskets, and come in 2 1/2 inch containers. I used to put spikes and other greenery in all my pots, window boxes and gardens when we lived in the Midwest and when we had our tiny patio garden on Capitol Hill. But I decided on a Portulaca, and two Scaevola plants. They arrived yesterday after a week in transit in remarkable condition. The soil was still damp as tiny baggies were held in place with rubber bands around the plastic containers. So we planted one in each basket, watered them, and hope they do well. I’m very impressed with the whole experience. My husband is shocked to see that someone actually does this. In these days where little things mean so much, having and caring for greenery is very soothing. So now we not only have our indoor console full of houseplants, now we have our tiny garden on the balcony. Every time we sit outside we notice the changes by day. Now we just need to keep the crows at bay. 

A Virginia Hospital Center Radiology Visit

Last week we had a telemedicine conference chat with my husband’s physician. It resulted in having to schedule a radiology appointment at Virginia Hospital Center. It’s bad enough having to go to a hospital without the virus around us, but even worse when it is. So the last week has been rather anxious for both of us. Since we moved from Capitol Hill last year, we now have all new doctors that are within a block or two of our house. But that also means going to new hospitals and clinics that we are not familiar with. This morning we took a 15 minute ride to the hospital. My husband was armed with his face mask, gloves, and hand sanitizer. This was the first time I was not able to accompany him on a visit. We always do things together, and I didn’t like the idea of just dropping him off at the front door in an unfamiliar place. After that, I drove around the suburban Arlington neighborhood and found a two hour parking spot across the street from the main entrance. Luckily it didn’t take very long, and my husband called me about an hour later to pick him up. He was pleased with the whole process and staff from start to finish and even more pleased that things looked good. Since he was in the “cootie” environment, I wasn’t able to hug him when I heard the news. This damn virus is upsetting in more ways than one. I’m looking forward to telling everyone things turned out okay - but my husband is waiting for the official report and not sure if anything else will be recommended. He’s taking a nap now since our schedule was weird today and anxiety has subsided. I am forever grateful for the good news having just lost my mom three months ago. Just another reminder how another day is never guaranteed. When we both worked in health care all those years we saw that all the time. But when it’s personal, it takes on a whole new meaning. 

Behind the trees is the Virginia Hospital Center 

Memorial Day Grubhub Exchange

We tried Uber eats delivery for Moby Dick for the first time about two weeks ago. It was great. Then we tried Grubhub for Greek Taverna last week. It was great. Since we have been cooped up in our condo since March 13, we have shifted little by little from eating exclusively at home to delivery from some of our favorite places. So yesterday we thought pizza from Assaggi would be a treat. I went to Grubhub to order and that all processed just fine. When it came time for the delivery we got a call from the driver that the restaurant was closed. I just assumed it meant the Italian part of the restaurant was closed - the pizzeria is located on the other side. Well, that was closed too. We felt so bad for the driver and asked how he could be compensated. He said not to worry about it and gave us the Grubhub customer service number to cancel the order. He would also be canceling the order on his end. We asked how this issue could happen. He said the restaurant didn’t “turn off the switch” on the app for the holiday. I then went to the Grubhub app and entered the issue. Within minutes I got a call that the order would be canceled and an email/text would be sent regarding the refund. It was a disappointment, but we ended up making our own pizza and a ravioli frozen dinner. I hope the next order goes better. 

Cleaning A Woner Hair Clipper Blade

Unfortunately the time had come again. My husband was getting antsy about his hair. It’s been a while since I had to cut his hair with the Woner hair clipper we got when all this virus nonsense started. Sometimes it feels so claustrophobic - we, like everyone else, can’t even do the basic things we used to - but luckily the feeling comes and goes. I haven’t had a hair cut since February and it is annoying. Anyway, after using the clipper, you are supposed to brush off all the accumulated hair around the blade. And, you are also supposed to wash the blade. Good luck! Neither one of us could get the blade head out to do anything - even after reading the instructions and looking for you tube videos. The last thing I wanted was to take a trip to the emergency room with cut fingers. So we left the blade alone and I put a couple of tiny drops of oil on it, as directed, leaving the clipper running a bit to circulate the oil. I’m hoping this thing lasts long enough to use. I have a feeling my husband may never go back to the barber shop. He always wanted me to cut his hair. Now he has his wish.